Community Spirit

In recognition of Veterans Day this year, NOCO is a proud participant in the Greenlight a Vet campaign, which encourages people to change one light in a visible location at home or at work to green as a symbol of support and appreciation for veterans.

Green light bulbs are for sale for $2.99 while supplies last at all NOCO Express locations now through Veterans Day on November 11. Lights at NOCO’s corporate office in Tonawanda as well as at its fuel terminal and several NOCO Express locations are going green to show support for veterans. In addition, NOCO is providing green light bulbs to the company’s more than 680 employees to change a light to green at their homes.

St. Martin of Tours Church in South Buffalo will host a free “Praise-A-Peel” music event at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22. The event will feature the music of Father Bill Quinlivan accompanied by a few other musicians and vocalists.

“The goal of the ‘Praise-A-Peel’ musical event is to prepare people for Thanksgiving,” said Fr. Quinlivan. “The event will also include a blessing of potato peelers and likely a telling of the story of how I once ended up in the emergency room as a result of preparing a small part of Thanksgiving dinner for my family.”

The Olear Team at MJ Peterson Real Estate has announced it will make a donation to Meals on Wheels with every house they sell in Western New York. The donations will be made to Meals on Wheels for Western New York, Amherst Meals on Wheels or Ken-Ton Meals on Wheels, depending on the location of the sale.

Meals on Wheels fulfills a critical need by providing nutritious meals and human companionship to homebound and disabled members of the community. Their vision is to ensure that every member of our community will receive a meal that meets their nutritional needs.

Pet Connection Programs Inc., a maternity and special care shelter for dogs and cats located in Marilla, will hold a chicken barbecue and basket auction from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Variety Club Banquet Hall, 6114 Broadway, Lancaster.

Dinners are take-out only and will include a half chicken from BW’s Barbecue plus a cream corn bake, mashed potatoes with gravy, homemade noodle salad, roll and dessert. The cost for the chicken dinner is just $11 per person. Vegetarian and vegan dinner options will also be available for just $7.

The basket auction will feature more than 200 items, and all proceeds will benefit the homeless shelter animals at Pet Connection Programs Inc., located at 12935 Williston Road, Marilla. Prizes are valued from $25 to $1,300, with drawings beginning at 6 p.m. You do not have to be present to win.

NOCO customers and employees generously donated $19,456 to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Western & Central New York Chapter.

“In our five years of supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, nearly $100,000 has been raised to date by our customers and employees to support ongoing research and services for those in Western New York who are impacted by blood cancers,” said Michael Bradley, chief financial officer and senior vice president, NOCO.

NOCO Express customers had the opportunity to make a $1 donation towards the campaign at any of the company’s 37 locations throughout September. In addition, NOCO employees conducted a month-long fundraiser which included hot dog sales, silent auctions and walk donations. A “Pump It Up” promotion at three Express locations also was conducted where, in exchange for donations, NOCO employees pumped customers’ gas and washed car windows.

The event will feature food by Elm Street Bakery, wine provided by Reed’s Wines and Liquors, beer, music by Doug Yeomans, and a custom-made cherry coffee table handcrafted by local artisan Jim Conell-Cordes and valued at $2,800. Raffle tickets for the coffee table are available for $10 each or three for $25. The drawing will take place the night of the event.

Positive ways to take action on environmental issues will be addressed at the 13th annual Western New York Environmental Summit taking place Sept. 30 at Daemen College.

“Get Involved: A Toolkit for Action,” which is free and open to the public, is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to noon in Daemen’s Wick Campus Center. A continental breakfast will be provided for all event attendees.

“This year’s event is designed to educate attendees on how they can make a difference and have a positive impact on environmental issues,” said Dr. Brenda Young, program director of global and local sustainability. “Understanding the tools that are available to create change will help make efforts more effective in our communities.”

The Environmental Summit will kick off with a keynote presentation, “Empowering Your Organization Brand Through Social Media, to be given by Daniel Wangelin, owner of [re]noun creative, a Buffalo-based design and marketing company.